For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.
23
votes
1answer
10k views
How do I fix a “water hammer” problem?
When I shut off a water faucet or right after the toilet tank refills after flushing, I hear a vibrating sound in my pipes. It last between one and two seconds.
On the interwebs, I found out that ...
9
votes
4answers
5k views
Why do my toilets flush slowly and often incompletely?
I have three toilets that all flush slowly and incompletely. I've adjusted the chain to ensure the flap raises completely. I've raised the float to ensure the tank fills nice and high. Yet I have this ...
8
votes
5answers
4k views
How do I eliminate the “whooshing” sound of water running though pipes?
At every faucet and toilet in our house, when water is running, it creates a loud wooshing noise in the walls. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but it's like the normal "oh I can hear the sink or ...
15
votes
2answers
9k views
How do I fix a leaky toilet that only leaks from underneath?
I am noticing some water spots on my concrete in my (unfinished) basement. When I look up for the cause of the water I can see water dripping around the hole that is used for the sewer pipe for the ...
8
votes
2answers
403 views
Why is the water pressure in my home clearly less than my neighbors?
I own a relatively new home (3 years old) in a new development. I have a PEX water system, which I love (as do all my neighbors).
So, I put out the "fan" sprinkler in my yard, and it shoots an ...
13
votes
7answers
4k views
Does Pex tubing have any advantages over copper?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Pex tubing? How does it compare to copper?
28
votes
4answers
20k views
Why does my dishwasher back up into the sink, but running the disposal allows it to drain?
When my dishwasher runs the kitchen sink backs up. I have a two tub sink and only the side nearest the dishwasher with the garbage disposer backs up. Running the disposal for a few seconds causes the ...
16
votes
4answers
16k views
How do I wrap pipe threads with teflon tape?
When wrapping pipe threads with teflon tape (thread seal tape), what is the direction and recommended number of times to wrap the tape around the threads? Any other recommendations or tip/tricks when ...
10
votes
2answers
979 views
Why would you use copper over CPVC or PEX?
Are there any advantages to using copper rather than CPVC or PEX?
5
votes
4answers
699 views
Why is the first shower of the day is colder than the second?
Description
Since I've moved into this house, I've noticed that the first shower of the day is colder than the any subsequent shower. More specifically, if no hot water has been used for a while, ...
5
votes
1answer
231 views
What is this component that connects to the garbage disposal?
I am trying to install a new faucet with a soap dispenser. I removed my old facuet; however, where the soap dispenser is supposed to go, this is here:
It has pipes that go to the sink erator under ...
4
votes
2answers
517 views
Did I just ruin the flange on our toilet?
The point where the elbow joint from our flushometer meets the toilet bowl has begun leaking (dripping, really) whenever we flush (so, whenever water passes through it). I jiggled it a bit and the ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
How to fix a bathtub faucet that leaks only when the shower runs?
I just moved into an apartment and the faucet in the tub is fine when all of the water is off. It leaks when I turn on the water and switch it to the shower head. What could be the problem?
It's a ...
3
votes
1answer
171 views
How can I fix this leak?
There's a water leak in the tube coming out of my heater. Yet the bolts look tightly put.
I'm not sure how to fix it. Any idea ?
3
votes
1answer
2k views
What could be causing water to drip from the relief valve of my new gas water heater?
My old hot water tank met its maker about two or three weeks ago, and since then I have installed a new Kenmore 50 gallon gas water heater to replace it.
The new water heater seems to work fine, I ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
What are some causes/solutions for poor drainage?
What are some causes/solutions for poor drainage?
It seems that our house tends to drain water very slowly. The bathroom sink could probably overflow if the water was left on, the bathtub also seems ...
37
votes
9answers
23k views
How can I improve the water pressure in my shower?
I recently purchased my first home. It has two bathrooms and the water pressure in both is less than ideal. What are some steps I can take to increase the pressure?
5
votes
5answers
2k views
How to fix a leaky flapper valve?
I bought a house that had been sitting for some time. One of the the issues that I've discovered is that the flapper valve leaks. I've come to this conclusion by turning off the water to the tank ...
10
votes
3answers
858 views
Are tankless water heaters worth it in cold climates?
I was thinking of switching over to a tankless water heater, but a friend of mine said they are not good in colder climates since the water coming in is colder and takes longer to heat. Is this a ...
5
votes
3answers
327 views
Options for replacing an at-grade hose bibb
The problem
My house is built on a crawlspace and the floor of the house is just a few inches above grade. The hose bibbs come straight out of the crawlspace and are thus very close to the ground. ...
5
votes
1answer
679 views
What alternative methods exist to correct a belly in a clay sewer line?
In the first 18 months of living in my house, I've already had 4 sewage backups in my basement. Luckily the basement is not finished and I've caught the backup each time before it became a large ...
4
votes
3answers
441 views
Are hot water returns worth putting in?
Once I saw on an episode of This Old House that they were putting in hot water return lines: pipes that recirculate idle hot water back to the heater so you get hot water right away, instead of ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
What is this clunking noise in my water pipe?
Earlier today, I noticed a strange, repetitive clunking noise from the vicinity of my water heater. After some investigation, it seems to come from the cold water supply to the water heater.
Here's ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I replace this cast iron toilet flange?
I have a big old gawd awful cast iron (at least I think it's cast iron, the house was built in 1940) toilet flange that is in sorry shape.
See?
There will never be a better time to replace it - as ...
9
votes
1answer
625 views
Can a toilet be moved 6 inch to the right?
I want to move my toilet over horizontally by 6 inches. Is there an "S" shape pipe piece I can use to connect my existing plumbing to my toilet?
Is there any other simple solution to getting this ...
9
votes
5answers
6k views
Why does my shower switch keep burning out?
I have a Mira Shower 10.8 kW.
My switch is a 45A switch. I have a 50A fuse for the shower. The shower uses 10mm2 cable.
9 months ago the switch sparked and refused to turn off and the fuse ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Toilet does full-blast, one-second refill every hour or so
I wouldn't lose sleep over this, except the unexpected and fierce sound startles my girlfriend and cat every time.
So I just replaced the refill valve on our toilet (using a kit, so everything from ...
7
votes
4answers
10k views
How do I “fix” a bad sweat (solder) joint?
I tried soldering some 1/2" copper (to make something like this) and some of my joints are horrible.
I tested it with water and some of the joints leak.
What is the best way to fix the joints?
...
6
votes
2answers
725 views
What could cause my sink to drain slowly?
Sometimes our bathroom sink will drain so slowly (with the water running) that the water will fill it faster than it can drain.
However, after shutting the water off and letting it completely ...
6
votes
7answers
3k views
Why is my brand new PEX clear tubing turning green near the hot water heater?
I just moved into my house with brand new PEX (uponor) plumbing. I used clear for the hot and cold instead of red and blue, because I bought everything myself and I thought it would prevent wasting ...
5
votes
2answers
389 views
What could cause my toilets to bubble and clear water to come out of the clean out pipe?
Manufactured home installed 1996 but septic tank is from 1973. I live on a hill and have had no septic back ups. Two weeks ago my toilets started bubbling and it appeared they were sucking air. I ...
5
votes
4answers
6k views
Can p-trap be installed higher than drain entry?
I have p-trap entry in drain at 16" above the floor. However, vanity that I got has lower drawer which has top at about the same height. There is also about 4" clearance behind drawer.
I was told that ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
How do I install this wall mount bathroom sink?
I'm replacing a sink that was on a vanity cabinet and hoping to do as little busting through the perfectly good tile as possible. I heard a rumor that I need to make very sure that the sink is ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Should I bond a water softener's in/out pipes?
Our house was built in 1997. The pipes are copper (including the city water supply pipe). Some time after the house was built, the previous owners installed a water softener. The softener parts are ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
What are the advantages and disadvantage of using “pushfit” pipe fittings?
There are many makes of pushfit pipe fittings that make it a lot easer to join pipes, incluing copper pipes, e,g:
John Guest Speedfit
Cuprofit®- copper push fit
Hepworth-HEP20
(please expand the ...
3
votes
2answers
223 views
What is this pipe called, and how does it work?
I recently saw a plumbing setup where a 2" pipe was run from a bend in the 4" toilet return. The 2" pipe bent upwards to meet the floor next to the toilet, where it was capped off with a removable ...
3
votes
3answers
166 views
Is it a problem that my toilet flange is 3/8" below the surrounding tile?
My tile setter had to elevate the tiles around the toilet hole in order to make up for some unevennesses. As a result, the toilet flange is approx. 3/8" below the surrounding tile. Can that be ...
3
votes
3answers
3k views
When should pipe dope vs thread tape be used?
For threaded plumbing connections, you typically use pipe dope or thread tape (aka teflon tape). Are there situations when one is preferred over another? Does the size of the pipe, type of pipe, part ...
3
votes
2answers
298 views
Can (and should) I replace the hose connecting a cold water expansion vessel to the cold water supply myself?
We recently had a small flood in our apartment. I found that the metal-sheathed rubber hose connecting the cold water supply to the blue cold water expansion vessel had a wide split in it. The water ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
What's the purpose of a cold water expansion vessel?
My rented flat (in the UK) has 2 expansion tanks behind the boiler, one red, one blue.
From googling around I can find lots of references to hot water expansion vessels; the purpose seems to be to ...
3
votes
1answer
711 views
Is there a way to increase toilet flush pressure to prevent clogs?
My toilet seems to be a little, well, underpowered when it comes to flushing. It often "chokes" and "coughs" when flushing only liquid, which seems to indicate that the water pressure isn't high ...
3
votes
3answers
8k views
Why are there bubbles in my bathroom toilet and sink?
I have had a lot of really odd things happen in my bathroom this weekend and I want to make sure it is nothing too serious.
Ok so when I was taking a shower I heard the toilet bubble up. A few ...
3
votes
1answer
654 views
Why is my third floor hot water pressure so low?
The hot water pressure in our 3rd floor shower is very low. The 2nd floor shower however, has very good pressure. The problem is not the shower head, which actually produces great pressure when ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
How do I fix a shutoff valve that isn't opening?
My dishwasher started leaking over the weekend. I turned off the water at the shutoff in the basement, it's a standard faucet type in the copper piping.
I then replaced the rubber heater hose used ...
2
votes
2answers
321 views
What goes on threads first: tape or dope?
Should the dope be applied directly to the male threads or should the tape go on first?
2
votes
1answer
122 views
What could be causing our shower fixture to not work properly?
All of the sudden, we can't turn our Symmons shower fixture to 12 o'clock. It stops around 10 o'clock in it's off position now. We've noticed that when we turn the shower on lately it makes a really ...
2
votes
2answers
4k views
After installing expansion tank, massive buildup of pressure then a trickle?
I am completely stumped. You guys helped me out a lot with my previous question here: New gas water heater dripping relief valve, have expansion tank, what gives?
Turns out the expansion tank ...
2
votes
1answer
19k views
What could cause bubbling toilet when the shower or sink is running?
One of the two toilets in my rental house is bubbling when the shower or sink in that master bath area are on. In the past, about 6 months ago, I have had plumbers and rotoruter out and they could ...
2
votes
2answers
288 views
What tools are required to unclog sink drain with garbage disposal?
So yesterday someone in my family put some celery stalks (with the hard stems included) down the garbage disposal, after which our drain drained much slower. I tried filling up the sink with water ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What's that dripping sound I hear in the attic whenever we turn on the water?
Obviously it has something to do with water, but I haven't been able to track it down.
Basically, whenever someone turns on the water in my house, I hear a dripping sound coming from the ceiling ...
